Lens-box.



No. 761,977. PATENTED'JUNE 7; 1904.

' J. MENCHEN.

LENS BOX. APPLICATION nun mo. 15, 1903.

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Patented June 7, 1904.

PATENT OFFICE.

JOSEPH MENOHEN, OF NEW YORK, N. Y.

LENS-BOX.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 761,977, dated. June 7, 1904. Application filed December 15, 1908. Serial No. 185,216. (No model.)

To all whom, it may concern:

Be it known that I, J osnPI-I MENCHEN, a citizen of the United States, and a resident of the city,county, and State of New York, have invented certain new and useful Improvements-- in Lens-Boxes, of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to what are known to the trade as lens-boxes, which are used to project certain lights or scenes upon screens or stage-settings, and has for its object the combining with a lens-box of a stereopticon, kaleidoscope, or other optical appliance which may prove useful in sceniceifects, and provides means for the instant attachment or release of these adjuncts. These and other objects of my invention will be more fully described in the following. Specification, and set forth in the appended claims.

In the drawings forminga part of this specification, and in which like reference characters refer to like parts, Figure 1 is a side view of a lens-box with a stereopticon applied thereto. Fig. 2 is a longitudinal sectional View of the lens and coupling-rings in position. Fig. 3 is a side view of these rings detached. Fig. 1 is a front view of the slide-ring in its place on the front of the box.

In the use of lights for stage effects the same are usually inclosed in an upright box 1 and adjusted or extinguished by suitable thumbscrews and switch levers, the box being mounted on the horizontal arm of a standard 2 and adapted to be swung in a vertical are thereon by the thumb-wheel 3, and the cylindrical section 4 of the box may be provided with an opening 5 for 'the inspection of the lamp by the operator. The standard 2 also permits of the rotation of the box on a horizontal plane. On the front wall of the box, concentric with the cylindrical part 4 thereof, is a lens-holding ring 6, riveted or otherwise fastened and having upper and lower horizontal guideways 7 and carrying lens 8. This lens 8 is adapted to throw upon a stagesetting what are known as flood-light and spotlightc'.e., a light diffused over a large area or one concentrated within small imits.

A ring 9, carrying a lens 10 and having provided for use in connection with a stereopticon or the like. The outer surface of this ring 9- receives and supports a flanged ring or collar 12, carrying set-screws 13, which clampit to' the ring 9 after being set at any desired point around its periphery. The flange 14 of this collar has two bosses 15, which carry the horizontal rods 16-, to the front ends of which are secured the bellows 17 and the tube 18, carrying the objectivelens. The front wall 19 of the bellows has bosses 20, in which the rods 16 are secured, and the rear partition 21 hasbosses 21, through which slide the rods 16 to permit of the adjustment of the bellows and the objective-lens. The wall 21 carries a yielding partition 22, y'vith threaded rods 21, carrying the springs 25, which are compressed'between the wall 21 and the partition .23 by the nuts 26.

Between the flange 14 and the partition 22 is placed and held kaleidoscopic or illustrated slides or colored screens. 7

The operation of the box and the attachments is as follows: As hereinbefore explained, the lens 8 when used alone is designed 'to produce a diffused or concentrated light on the stage or scene, accordingly as the light in the box 1 is near to or removed from the lens. To produce stereopticon-etfects, however, two lenses are required, and for this purpose it has heretofore been necessary to use two lamps. Stereopticons require a large and costly lampbox, and the two lamps would not only be expensive, butoccupy much valuable space. By providing the stereopticon attachment with the collar 12 and clamping the latter to the ring 9 I am enabled to instantly slide the ring into its position on the front of the ring 6, making one lamp serve the purpose of throwing spot and flood lights as well as giving stereopticon and kaleidoscopic effects.

The annular coupling of the ring and collar permits 0f the rotation of the stereopticon to any inclination from the perpendicular that may be desired and the screws 13 set to hold it at the desired angle. 7

It is obvious'that I may apply and secure the collar 12 to the ring 9 while the latter is already in its position on the ring 6 or before the same has been mounted thereon. When the stereopticon is properly attached, the objective-lens 18 may be adjusted by sliding it, with the rods 16, in or out the bosses 15 until the proper focus is obtained.

What I claim, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is

1. In alens-box the combination of the box, guideways thereon, a flanged ring adapted to slide in the guideways, and a collar telescoping with the ring and adapted to be adjusted circumferentially about the same, substantially as described.

2. In a lens-box the combination of a box, a ring carrying a lens secured to the box and having guideways, a ring carrying a second ring and having flanges adapted to slide in the guideways and a collar adapted to be fitted on the second ring and carrying a storeopticon, substantially as described.

3. In a lens-box the combination of a box, a ring with a lens secured to the box, a second ring with a lens adapted to be coupled to the first ring, means for coupling the two rings, a flanged collar adapted to be secured to the second ring, adjustable rods adapted to move through the flange at a right angle to the axis of the lenses and a stereopticon carried by the outer ends of the rods, substantially as described.

4'. In a lens-box, the combination of a box, a ring secured to the box and carrying a lens, a ring carrying a second lens and adapted to be coupled to the first ring, a collar adapted to fit the second ring and be adjusted concentrically thereon, set-screws, a flange with bosses on the collar, rods passing through the bosses, a stereopticon on the outer ends of the rods and a resilient frame at the inner end of the stereopticon adapted to co ")perate with the flange of the adjustable collar, substantially as described.

5. In a lens-box, the combination of a box, a ring secured thereto and carrying a lens, a second ring with a lens adapted to be coupled to the first lens, means for coupling the two rings, a flanged collar adjustably secured to the second ring, bosses on the flange of the collar, rods adjustable in the bosses, a stereoptieon, a frame secured to the front ends of the rods and carrying the objective lens and the front end of the bellows of the stereopticon, a second frame carrying the rear end of the bellows and having perforations, a third frame having springs carrying adjustingscrews which play through the perforatimis of the second frames and adapt it to be adjusted with relation to the flanges of the adjustable collar and thumb-nuts to adjust the position of the third frame and the tension of its springs, substantially as described.

In witness whereof I have hereunto set my hand in presence of two witnesses.

JOSEPH M ENOI I lCi \Vitnesses:

W M. F. HALL, H. A. LANE. 

